Record from iOS widgets and Control Center

On iOS you can start a recording without opening the app: from the Start recording home-screen widget, and on iOS 18 from a Control Center control that also works on the Lock Screen and the Action Button. While recording, a Live Activity in the Dynamic Island and on the Lock Screen shows the timer.

How do I add the home-screen widget?

1. Touch and hold the home screen, then tap Edit and Add Widget.
2. Search for Canto and add the Start recording widget.
3. Tap the widget any time — Canto opens and recording starts immediately.

The widget is the fastest reliable path from "something worth recording is happening" to a running recorder.

How do I record from Control Center? (iOS 18)

1. Open Control Center and touch and hold to enter editing, then choose Add a Control.
2. Find the Canto recording control and place it.
3. Tapping the control starts a recording.

The same control can go on your Lock Screen (customize the Lock Screen and pick it as one of the two bottom shortcuts) and on the Action Button (Settings → Action Button → Controls) on iPhones that have one. All three are the identical control — set up whichever you'll actually reach for.

What does the Live Activity show?

Once recording starts, a Live Activity appears in the Dynamic Island and on the Lock Screen with the running timer. It's a glanceable answer to "is it still recording?" without unlocking the phone or switching apps. Tap it to jump back into the recorder — where the pause, End, and Discard recording controls, plus title, notes, and bookmarks, live. See Add bookmarks and notes while recording

FAQ

The widget or control asks me to sign in

Recording needs a signed-in account, since the audio uploads to it. Open the app and sign in once; the shortcuts work from then on. See Download Canto and sign in

Does starting from a widget change anything about the recording?

No — it's a normal recording. It uploads and transcribes the same way and lands in your library. See How does Canto process recordings?

I don't see the Control Center control

The control requires iOS 18. On iOS 17, use the home-screen widget instead.

Is there an Apple Watch app?

No. Recording starts from the iPhone — widget, Control Center, Action Button, or the app.